When Villains Rise (3) (Market of Monsters)

Actual rating: 3.5 SPOILERS AHEAD. You have been warned. I originally found this series through the WEBTOON adaptation, sometime in July, and I'd been following the books closely ever since. Now, having finished the series in its entirety, I have a few things to say. Action-wise, this book does not disappoint, with stellar and descriptive writing that will have you at the edge of your seat just as the last two had done. When it comes to the general plot regarding INHUP, Fabricio and the black market, most of the loose ends are tied up, though some things remain open-ended (I'm not a fan of ambiguity). Pacing was a little fast, and sometimes it seemed that too many events were happening in too short a timespan. All the same, my questions have been answered, even with all of the exciting twists (and there are many), and for that I am grateful.However, when it comes to the interpersonal relationships between the characters, I am left feeling distinctly dissatisfied. I want to keep spoilers at a minimum, but for anyone reading this series solely because of the romance elements, I'm going to tell you right now: Don't. A different series might be more your speed. Given the language and tone of the first two books, I can't help but feel that this "revelation" between Kovit and Nita in the third book is a little too abrupt, almost as if it wasn't planned until a late stage in the drafts. I've seen an early review of the book with the reader saying that they feel rather misled, and I have to agree. I would have been satisfied if there was more foreshadowing in Not Even Bones and Only Ashes Remain, but there wasn't, so the resolution to the romance subplot feels more like a bait-and-switch than anything, or a last-minute attempt to send a message.In conclusion, the ending to this wonderful series should be enough to satisfy those who love the mystery and lore, so long as you focus on that and nothing else.

So, I finally get the last book, everything is ramping up to this conclusion. Nita and Kovit are trying to become the top dogs between the black market who want Nita because of her mystery powers and the government wants Kovit dead because he is a Zannie. Guys, I was so invested in this story. I wanted more lore, more investment into this strange relationship than was building between Kovit and Nita, the choices they were making just to survive and how this was all going to end.Let me tell you: what. A. disappointment.Seriously.Let me clarify: nothing happens. Nothing of significance happens in this final book. Everything is wrapped up in a neat little bow, nothing major happens to Nita or Kovit, and everything just ends all nice and peachy. I wanted to love and devour this book, but it built and built and then just flattened and ended. Everything towards the end wrappped up the ENTIRE story. Which is a shame because so much could've been done. I just felt that this story deserved more than that ending.And its only 228 pages which says a lot.

I loved it. She is a great writer and the story was wonderful. I did have to laugh at how, in EVERY single book, she described Kovit's hair as being like a shampoo commercial EVERY SINGLE TIME HE FEEDS. Lmao!! How does something that repetitive not get fixed? Surely there are other adjectives my dude.ISpoilers:While I was shipping Kovit and Nita hard, I absolutely LOVE their dynamic.I am an ace/demisexual and how amazing to see how their relationship molded. To take it away from sex and have it be about their bond and other very strong forms of imtamacy ... Great. Too often relationships are measured in sex, how refreshing and real to have their relationship/friendship unfold this way.Overall, highly recommend this book.

I love this trilogy BUT the last book I felt lacked alot. It felt more like things were rushed to their conclusion and not enough thought went into it. There was barley enough action where as the other books the MC was constantly getting into some kind of altercation that required quick thinking. This book the MC just talked about the same thing over and over and thought the same thing over and over. It took up quite a few chapters and basically just felt like filler because the author didnt know what else to add to the story. There should've been more with her mother or the whole breaking into Fabricos fathers company. Everything was just too easy and simple. And the whole relationship or whatever you want to call it with Kovit was upseting. Like really the first 2 books had alot of built up for the two MC just to go nowhere in the last book. Niether character wanted to kiss or say they want to be a couple or anything! I mean their dynamic is what really drew me into this books. So for it to not really go anywhere then them just being really close friends who maybe possibly like each other, was super disappointing. I would still recommend this book but you just wont be completely satisfied with how it ALL ends.

I loved and was so invested in the first 2 books 'Not Even Bones' and 'When Ashes Remain'. I waited months for the 3rd book 'When Villains Rise' to come out. I read the whole thing in the first week it arrived and let me tell you, it did not live up to the hype.The 1st book was about Nita, the 2nd book about Kovit, whilst this 3rd book was supposed to focus on their partnership and how amazing the two characters would be together. But I really felt the dynamic lacking in this story.It's like whenever they need to come up with an idea of what to do, Kovit asks Nita 'what should we do?' and Nita comes up with the whole plan without Kovit really contributing. Most of the focus is on Nita instead of the partnership.Also, even though the book is titled 'When Villains Rise', it feels like the rise of Nita as the real villain, because we as the reader witness her becoming more and more immoral as the story goes by, whilst Kovit, the pain-eating, torture loving Zannie, just stays the same. In fact, he actually becomes even more morally-aware of his actions by the end of the book. Which is good in itself, but my point is that it makes him less of a villain.Something I had always expected was that the 2 previous books were building up to the final book being action-packed. However, the pacing was irregular at times, and everything just ended up being resolved too easily with no real challenge. Especially, the showdown between Nita and her mom, a real, formidable antagonist. As a result, the ending felt anti-climactic and a bit too good to be true?Furthermore, the romance that had been building up from the previous books just disappeared. A lot of fans were really invested in this ship, but the author out of nowhere decides to turn it into an asexual relationship. There's nothing particularly wrong with an asexual relationship (in fact I thought it was kinda unique and different and the author was trying to raise awareness of some kind), but between these two characters and the way the plot and character dynamics were executed, it didn't make sense. Plus, there were no prior hints to this at all. I felt betrayed. They both made their feelings for each other very clear at the end of the 2nd book and this strongly implied a romantic relationship as a way forward. So it doesn't make sense for the characters (mostly Kovit) to suddenly decide they don't want to be in that kind of relationship. As a fan I thought Nita and Kovit's personalities and behaviours' really complimented each other, and that the romance would make them even stronger together.I think the author must have rushed herself on the final story to get it released sooner and the new additions just didn't work out. It was such a letdown for me.

An absolutely perfect ending to the series, very sad that this is the "last" book! I really hope Rebecca continues this story in some way, the characters are so in depth and you really get the feeling you know Nita and Kovit.

NO LEAN LOS ÚLTIMOS DOS PÁRRAFOS SI no quieren spoilers.El primer libro tiene una trama simple. Un conflicto que empieza y termina. El segundo son las consecuencias del primero y cómo los protagonitas se unen para lidiar con las dificultades y finalmente triunfar y tener un plan para acabar con sus problemas (con un twist al final de otro problema) El tercer libro resuelve los conflictos de la trama y otros más por puras conveniencias.De pronto todo está relacionado, algunas actitutes cambian. Debo decir que es un terrible libro. Todo se resuelve de forma fácil, no hay conflictos y errores como en el segundo.Lo peor es que una relación amorosa que parecían estarse formando, y claro que era complicada, cambia totalmente a algo que parece ser asexualidad? Ni siquiera lo saben plantear. Si iba a ser así debieron plantearse más cosas sobre esto antes. Algo que alimentará esto. Siento que la autora se dio cuenta que sus tramas estaban tan flojas que tuvo que meter algo así para llamar la atención y ni eso hizo bien.

This and the rest of the trilogy was just.. wow. The storyline is unique, the characters are amazing, and I'm glad that the romance isn't the only thing that makes the books.. the books. This trilogy was and is amazing and I would do anything to read it again for the first time.

Perfect. Was so excited for this book, it came early and in great condition. I loved the series!